Moment Resistant Building Column Insert System And Method

ABSTRACT

A moment resistant building column insert system is provided that enables the erection of beams to columns, and the installation and pretension of connection bolts possible in a single stop to each beam-column joint in the field. Included is a building column insert with pre-hardened structural filler inside, and a pattern of through-holes transverse to the insert length, where the insert has threaded elements disposed inside and concentric to erection holes in the pattern. The insert is disposed inside a building column. Erection bolts installed to the erection holes to hold the beam in place against the column with the holes in the beam mounting plate, the column and insert aligned. Connection through-bolts are installed and pretensioned to provide the connection strength needed to make a beam-column moment joint rigid. Without the pre-hardened structural filler in the insert the column would deform or crush due to the bolt pretensioning.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/801,815 filed May 10, 2007, which isincorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/801,815 is a continuation in part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/373,719 filed Mar. 10, 2006, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to building structures. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a building column insert thatprovides a moment-resistant alignment and connection between columns andbeams, and column splices.

BACKGROUND

It is currently desirable to use moment-resistant structures inconstruction of new buildings because they offer fewer restrictions fordesign and more useful space, while adhering to building design codes.The moment-resistant structures must meet building code standards thatrequire the moment-resistant connections to deflect and absorb energyresulting from earthquakes or high winds. A rigid joint is typicallyused to resist lateral forces by holding columns and beams fixed inrelation to one another. As a result, the joints can become highlystressed during a seismic event. In a moment-resisting structure, thevertical and lateral loads are resisted by the bending strength of thebeams and columns. Modern building codes require the strength of thecolumns and beams be proportioned to prevent column failure by allowingpermanent deformation in the beam prior to any column failure. Thegreatest demand on the columns and beams occurs at and adjacent to thejoints between columns and beams.

Moment-resistant frames are most often made of structural steel withbolted or welded joints. Bolted moment frames require plates welded tothe ends of beams, that are in turn bolted to the column. Successfulmoment-resisting frames provide a ductile structure that will distortprior to failure and if properly detailed will not fail in a brittlemanner. These frames develop their resistance to lateral forces throughthe flexural strength and continuity of the beam and column.

An acceptable moment-resisting beam column joint must remain rigid tothe point of beam failure. Often, the Reduced Beam Section (RBS) is usedto provide a “fuse” in the beam where failure occurs while the jointbetween the column and beam remains rigid. To accomplish this the jointmust resist compression and tension forces produced by the bending inthe beam at the beam flanges.

In the past most columns and beams have been “I” shaped members calledwide flange sections. The top and bottom of the “I” section is theflange. Typically the beams frame into the column flange, which is the“strong axis” direction of the section. The beam flanges are usuallywelded to the flange(s) of the column. This configuration gives thecolumn-beam joint great strength in one direction. To provide the samestrength in the other direction, at 90 degrees from the first direction,some columns in the structure must be rotated or loads must be resistedin the “weak axis” direction of the column. This would require astronger column to resist weak axis loads and use of configurations forweak axis column joints. Most small buildings require columns that mustresist loads in each direction. This is a problem for “I” sectioncolumns in that much larger columns would be required to resist weakaxis loads.

In contrast, Hollow Square Sections (HSS) have the same properties ineach direction. Using hollow square tube sections for columns can makedesign and detailing essentially the same in each direction and the samecolumn can be used for moment resisting connections in each direction.However, the HSS column presents a challenge in another way from thetypical “I” section column in making the moment-resisting connectionbetween the beam and the column.

A problem arises when assembling the beams to the columns where multiplebeams and columns are required. With bolted moment frames using HSScolumns, a through-bolt connection could be used to secure the beam endplate to the column. However, when multiple columns and beams are usedto span a length of building, the use of through-bolts would necessitatealigning and securing multiple beams simultaneously to the columns. Inthe case of a linear span, the assembly process requires the holes of afirst beam end plate to be aligned with the through-holes in a columnand aligning the holes of a second, opposing beam plate with the columnthrough-holes, then inserting the through bolts in each hole fortightening with nuts and washers. It would be necessary to install allthe beams at each line and level simultaneously. This process could beslow, difficult, expensive or very impractical.

In the ongoing effort to improve building frame construction that betterhandles severe lateral loads, such as earthquake and high-wind loads,much attention has been focused on the manner in which upright columnsand horizontal beams are connected. Attempts to addresses this issueinclude a column-beam interconnect with the ends of beams joined tocolumns using nodes of intersection and collar structures that surroundthe sides of the column as taught by Simmons et al. (U.S. Pat. No.6,837,016). Other attempts include Okawa et al., (U.S. Pat. No.5,410,847) who teaches a rod-like orthogonal metal connector provided inconcrete structure members with junction hardware to connect a steelmember to the structure member. Chen, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,040) teachesa beam-to-column connection for connecting an H-beam to a columnsurface, where the connection is defined at an end of the H-beam havinga web plate and a pair of flange plates. Houghton (U.S. Pat. No.6,138,427) teaches a moment resisting, beam-to-column connection, usingtwo gusset plates attached to a column and extending along the sides ofa beam and having connecting elements, where the connecting elements arebolted, riveted or welded to the beam along its longitudinal directionand to the gusset plates. Katayama et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,713)teaches a composite beam connected to a column by inserting a mortisepin into a bottom hole of a column and then inserting a locking pin intoa through-hole of the mortise pin and the horizontal hole of the columnsuch that joint of the composite beam and the column is firmly secured.Further, Briggs (U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,477) teaches a concrete beamreinforcement anchor embedded in the concrete, which has a plane surfacein the side-face of the beam or column for bolting a beam thereto.Additionally, Sato et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,622) teach a solidconcrete core thrust into a column, which then disallows the usethrough-bolt assembly and necessitates a clamping assembly that haslimited utility.

These and other designs and systems have been used to make thisconnection but they are considered costly, less flexible orimpracticable to build. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a systemthat allows for the less expensive assembly of the beams to the columnsin moment frames. It would be considered an advance in the art usingthrough bolts to connect beams to columns without the need for multiplebeams to be installed at the same time, thus simplifying assembly forfaster and less expensive construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the needs in the art, a moment resistant building columninsert is provided that includes an insert column of generally tubularshape, a pre-hardened structural filler disposed within the insertcolumn, a pattern of through-holes transverse to a length of the insertcolumn and through the pre-hardened structural filler, at least a pairof erection through holes disposed through a wall of the insert column,at least a pair of threaded elements incorporated to an inner wall ofthe insert column and disposed concentric to the pair of erection holes,a threaded element cover disposed over each threaded element, where thethreaded element cover is surrounded by the pre-hardened structuralfiller, where the threaded element cover forms a cavity around thethreaded element within the pre-hardened structural filler, where thethreaded element cover is disposed to protect the threaded elements fromcontamination by the structural filler, and an insert positioningelement is disposed axially along the column, where the insertpositioning element includes a positioning through-hole disposed forreceiving a hoist end there though, where the moment resistant buildingcolumn insert is disposed inside a bottom end of a first building columnand inside a top end of a second building column, where the momentresistant building column insert joins the first building column to thesecond building column.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will beunderstood by reading the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a moment resistant buildingcolumn insert system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2( a)-2(d) show some embodiments of the erection insert accordingto the present invention.

FIGS. 3( a)-3(d) show some variations of the threaded element with theinsert according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4( a), 4(b) show perspective views of the moment resistantbuilding column insert system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 5( a)-5(c) show embodiment of the moment resistant building columninsert system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6( a), 6(b) show an exploded perspective view and a collapsedperspective view of another embodiment of the moment resistant columninsert invention.

FIG. 7 shows the steps of using the moment resistant building columninsert system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows the steps of using the embodiment of FIGS. 5( a)-5(c)according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics forthe purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art willreadily appreciate that many variations and alterations to the followingexemplary details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly,the following preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth withoutany loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, theclaimed invention.

The present invention makes possible the erection of beams to columns,and the installation and pretension of the connection bolts possible ina single stop to each beam-column joint in the field. The currentinvention shortens the process of installing the connection bolts and,prior to pretensioning the connection bolts, filling the entire columnwith grout or concrete and waiting for the filler to harden tosufficient strength to resist the pretensioning of the connection bolts,then pretensioning the bolts. This would require multiple trips to eachbeam. The current invention saves time, and reduces labor and materialcosts. In the invention, erection bolts are temporary bolts that holdthe beam in place against the column with the holes in the beamend-plate (mounting plate) aligned with the through-holes in the columnand insert. The erection bolts enable the erection of beams to thecolumns without the necessity of installing the connection through-boltsat time of erection. Once the hole patterns of the mounting plate,column and insert are aligned, connection through-bolts are installed toprovide the connection strength needed to make a rigid beam-columnmoment joint. These bolts must be pretensioned after installation toachieve the strength needed to hold the moment joint rigid. Without thepre-hardened structural filler in the insert, according to the currentinvention, the column would deform or crush due to the pretensioning.

Referring now to the figures, the current invention provides a momentresistant building column insert system 100, where FIG. 1 shows anexploded perspective view of one embodiment of the invention. The momentresistant building column insert system 100 includes a building column102, where in this figure the building column 102 is generally tubularshape having at least one pattern 104 of through-holes transverse to alength of the tube. Additionally, the invention has an insert 106 shownhere as a column insert of generally tubular shape, where the insert 106may also be a plate having the through-hole pattern 104, as will beapparent by the description below. A hardened structural filler 108 isdisposed within the insert 106 and the column 102. The insert 106 hasleast one pattern 104 of the through-holes transverse to a length of theinsert 106 and there is at least one through-hole pattern 104 throughthe structural filler 108. Shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1 is atleast one threaded element 110 incorporated to an inner wall 112 of theinsert 106 and disposed concentric to at least one of the insertthrough-holes, or referred to here as an erection through-hole 114.Further, a threaded element cover 116 is disposed over the threadedelement 110, for preventing the filler 108 entering the hole of thethreaded element 110 when the filler 108 is in a non-hardened state. Aninsert positioning element 118 is disposed axially along the insert 106.The insert positioning element 118 is a hole for receiving a hoist endthere through. According to the current embodiment, the positioningelement 118 is embodied in the hardened structural filler 108 that isaffixed inside the insert 106. The positioning element 118 enablesalignment of the through-hole pattern 104 of the insert 106 with thethrough-hole pattern 104 of the column 102, where the insert 106 issized to fit within the column 102. The building column insert system100 further has at least one beam 120, where the beam 120 includes amounting plate 122 attached to a beam end 124. The mounting plate 122includes mounting plate through-holes 126 arranged in the pattern 104,where the mounting plate 122 abuts an outside wall 128 of the column102. Further included is at least one erection connector 130, where inthe figure the erection connecter 130 is shown as an erection bolt 130.Here the erection bolt 130 spans through the mounting plate 122, througha wall of the column 102, through a wall of the insert 106 and into thethreaded element 110 for tightening, where the beam 120 is thendesirably positioned on the building column 102. The building columninsert system 100 further includes at least one set of mounting plateconnector hardware that includes a mounting plate through-bolt 132, amounting plate nut 134, and a mounting plate washer 136. According tothe current invention, with the insert 106 positioned in the column 102,the through-hole pattern 104 on the mounting plate 122 is aligned withthe through-hole pattern 104 on the column 102 and the through-holepattern on the filler 108, and the erection connector 130 is secured tothe threaded element 110 for holding the beam 120 in place while themounting plate connector hardware (132,134 136) are assembled, where themounting plate through-bolts 132 are inserted through the mounting plateholes 126, the column holes 138, the insert through-holes 140, thefiller through-holes 142, through the mounting plate washers 136 andinto said mounting plate nuts 134, whereby the mounting plate hardwareis tightened. Shown in FIG. 1 is a pair of opposing beams 120 andmounting plates 122 positioned on each side of the column 102, where itis understood that one or more beams 120 could be assembled to thecolumn 102. Further shown in FIG. 1 are cavities 144 in the hardenedstructural filler 108, where the cavities 144 are created when thestructural filler 108 is added to the insert 106 in a non-hardened stateto fully surround the lengths of the temporary mounting through-bolts(not shown) and the threaded element covers 116, then solidifies. Oncehardened, the temporary mounting through-bolts (not shown) are removedto reveal a pattern of through-holes 104 in the insert 106 and hardenedfiller 108.

The building column 102 can have any cross-section such as circular,rectangular, square or polygonal, for example. Additionally, the columninsert 106 can have any cross-section such as circular, rectangular,square, linear or polygonal, for example, where a linear cross-sectionis for a plate insert 106.

In FIG. 1, the threaded element 110 is shown as a square bolt, howeveraccording to one embodiment, the threaded element 110 can be an erectionthrough-hole 114 that is threaded (see FIG. 3( a)), where the threadedelement cover 116 would protect the threads from becoming covered withthe filler 108 before it solidifies. The structural filler 108 can beconcrete, grout, plastic, epoxy or a compression resistive material.

FIGS. 2( a)-2(d) show some embodiments of the erection insert 106. Asshown in FIG. 2( a), the erection insert 106 can be a plate insert 200having the hole pattern 104, where the plate insert 200 abuts the columninner wall 113, and where the hole pattern 104 of the plate insert 200is aligned with the hole pattern 104 of the column. The plate insert 200is then fixedly attached to the inner wall of the column 102, where theattachment may be done using screws, welding or its equivalents, forexample. The alignment through-holes 114 on the plate insert 200 canhave a threaded element 110 fixedly attached to the side of the plateinsert 200 that is opposite the side abutting the inner wall of thecolumn 102, or the threaded element may be positioned concentric withthe plate insert 200 using a nut cage (see FIG. 3( c)).

FIG. 2( b) shows an extended plate insert 202 that has an extended holepattern 204, where the extended hole pattern 204 has additional throughholes for attaching the extended plate insert 202 to the column 102 andproviding additional strength at the connection between the mountingplate 122 and the column 102.

FIG. 2( c) shows an erection insert plate 206 having the alignmentthrough-holes 114, in addition to plate attachment holes 208, where theplate attachment holes 208 can be attachment screw holes to attach theerection insert plate 206 to the inner wall of the column 102. In thisembodiment, the erection insert plate 206 has a pair of alignmentthrough-holes 114 that are positioned concentric with the alignmentthrough-holes 114 of the column 102, where the attachment screws areinserted through plate attachment through-holes in the column (see FIG.4) and into the plate attachment holes 208 of the erection insert plate206 and tightened to secure the erection insert plate 206 to the innerwall of the column 102. This embodiment of the invention enablessimplified alignment of the through-hole pattern 104 of the mountingplate 122 with the through-hole pattern 104 of the column 102. Referringto FIG. 1 and FIG. 2( c), The erection connector 130 is inserted throughthe alignment through-holes 114 of the mounting plate 122, through thealignment through-holes 114 of the column 102, through the alignmentthrough-holes 114 of the erection insert plate 206 and into a threadedelement 110 that is attached to the erection insert plate 206. In oneembodiment of the invention, the erection insert plate 206 can be athreaded nut 110 aligned with the alignment through-holes 114 of thecolumn 102 and attached thereto.

FIG. 2( d) shows an insert 106 as an column insert 210 of generallytubular shape having the through-hole pattern 104 and the alignmentthrough-holes 114.

FIGS. 3( a)-3(d) show some variations of the threaded element 110 withthe insert, where FIG. 3( a) shows the threaded element 110 as athreaded through-hole 300. According to this embodiment, the erectioninsert plate 206 is attached to the column inner wall 113 usingattachment screws (see FIG. 4( a)) screwed into the column 102 and intothe plate attachment holes 208 of the erection insert plate 206. FIG. 3(b) shows the plate insert 200 having the hole pattern 104, where thethreaded element 110 is aligned with the erection through-hole 114 ofthe plate insert 200 and welded thereto (not shown). The plateattachment holes 208 are shown as an example of how the plate insert 200may be attached to the column inner wall 113, however the plate insert200 may be attached using welding or its equivalents (not shown). FIG.3( c) shows the extended plate insert 202 having a nut cage 302 attachedthereto, where the nut cage 302 holds the threaded elements 110 inalignment over additional alignment through holes 210 of the extendedhole pattern 204 and over the alignment through-holes 114. FIG. 3( d)shows the insert 106 as a column insert 212 of generally tubular shape.The insert column 212 has the through-hole pattern 104 with the threadedelements 110 fixedly attached to the insert inner wall 112 andconcentric to the alignment through-holes 114, where it is understoodthat the threaded elements 110 may be attached using welding or itsequivalents (not shown). It should also be apparent that the securing ofany embodiment of the insert 106 to the column 102 to abut the columninner wall 113, with the hole pattern 104 of the insert 106 aligned withthe hole pattern 104 of the column 102, can be done using the attachmentscrews and the attachment holes 208 or by welding or its equivalents(not shown).

Regarding FIGS. 2 and 3, if one of the plates (200, 202, 208) is usedinstead of the tubular insert 210, then all or part of the column 102must be grouted prior to pretensioning the connector bolts 132. Here,the advantage in using an insert plate (200, 202, 208) is the ability touse an erection bolt 130 to erect the beam 120 to the column 102, onebeam 120 at a time when multiple beams 120 must be connected to the samecolumn. The longer insert plate 202 can also increase column 102 bendingcapacity where the ends of the plate 202 are connected to the column102.

FIGS. 4( a) and 4 (b) show perspective views of the moment resistantbuilding column insert system 100 according to one embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 4( a) shows a perspective cutaway view of theembodiment, where opposing beams 120 are attached near the top of thecolumn 102. The current invention includes a top plate 400 attached tothe top of the building column 102, using welding for example, where thetop plate 400 provides additional lateral strength at the top of thecolumn 102. Further shown is the erection connector 130 inserted throughthe mounting plate 122, through a wall of the column 102, through a wallof the insert 106 and into the threaded element 110, where the threadedelement 110 has a threaded element cover 116 to shield the threadedelement 110 from the structural filler 108 before it is hardened. FIG.4( b) shows a perspective partial cutaway view showing the momentresistant building column insert system 100 of FIG. 4( a) where the topplate 400 is shown secured to the top of the column 102.

Another embodiment of the moment resistant building column insert system100 is shown in FIGS. 5( a)-5(c). Shown is a first column 500 ofgenerally tubular shape having a first column top end 502 and a firstcolumn bottom end 504. Additionally shown is a second column 506 ofgenerally tubular shape having a second column top end 508 and a secondcolumn bottom end 510, where the second column bottom end 510 has apattern of through-holes 512, shown here with connectors 130 installedtherein, that are transverse to the length of the tube 506.

Shown in FIG. 5( b) is a column insert 106, where the insert 106 issized to fit within the building columns (500, 506). An insert bottomsection 514 is fitted into the first column top end 502 and welded 518thereto, where the insert 106 has a top section 516 with insertthrough-holes 518 arranged in the pattern of the second column bottomend 510 through-holes 512. The system 100 uses the insert connectersincluding a threaded element 110 incorporated to the insert inside wall112 and concentric to the pattern of through-holes 512 in the columninsert 106. Here the threaded elements 110 are shown as a nut cage 302that is welded to the insert inner wall 112, where other threadedelements 110 may be used.

The insert top section 516 is inserted to the second column bottom end510 and the hole patterns 512 of the second column 506 and the insert106 are aligned, where the erection connecters 130 are inserted to thethrough-holes 512 and into the threaded elements 110 and tightenedthereto. According to one embodiment, the threaded element 110 is athreaded through-hole 300 in the insert, or the threaded element 110 isa nut attached to the insert 106 as discussed in FIG. 3.

In another aspect of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the buildingcolumns (500, 506) can have a cross-section such as circular,rectangular, square of polygonal, and the insert 106 can have across-section such as circular, rectangular, square and polygonal.

FIGS. 6( a) and 6(b) show an exploded perspective view and a collapsedperspective view of another embodiment of the moment resistant columninsert invention. Shown is a modular moment resistant building columninsert 600 that has an insert column 106 of generally tubular shape. Theinsert 106 holds a hardened structural filler 108 disposed within theinsert 106 having a pattern of through-holes 204 transverse to a lengthof the insert column 106 and through the structural filler 108, wherethe through-hole pattern 204 shown is for the extended plate of FIG. 3(c) and it should be understood that other hole patterns may be used. Thefiller 108 has at least one cavity 144 positioned where over the beamerection through-hole 114, not seen in the drawings but an arrow isprovide in FIG. 6( a) to indicate one possible location. Further, thereis at least one threaded element 110 incorporated to an insert innerwall 112 and disposed concentric to the erection through-hole 114, wherea threaded element cover 116 is disposed over the threaded element 110;it is the threaded element covers 116 that create the cavities 114 whenthe non-hardened filler 108 surrounds the covers 116. An insertpositioning element 118 disposed axially along the column 106 isprovided, where the positioning element 118 enables alignment of theinsert through-hole pattern 104 with a through-hole pattern 104 of abuilding column 102. The insert 106 is sized to fit within the buildingcolumn 102. FIG. 6( b) shows the modular moment resistant buildingcolumn insert 600 that is to be positioned inside a column 112 (notshown).

In one aspect of the current embodiment, the insert column 106 can havea cross-section such as circular, rectangular, square or polygonal.

In other aspects, the threaded element 110 can be a threadedthrough-hole in the insert 106 or a nut attached to the insert 106.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the insert positioning element 118is a hole for receiving a hoist end there through (not shown). And, in afurther aspect, the structural filler 108 can be concrete, grout,plastic, epoxy or compression resistive material.

A general method of using the moment resistant building column insertsystem 100 and a modular moment resistant building column insert 600 isshown by the steps in FIG. 7. The steps include providing a buildingcolumn 700, wherein the building column is generally tubular shapeprovide with at least one pattern of through-holes transverse to alength of the tube. And providing an insert 702 such as a plate or acolumn of generally tubular shape, and providing at least one pattern ofthrough holes 704 transverse to a length of the insert. At least onethreaded element is provided 706 that is incorporated to an inner wallof the insert and disposed concentric to one of the insertthrough-holes, and at least one threaded element cover is provided 708disposed over the threaded element. Providing a hardened structuralfiller 710 disposed within the insert, where the provided pattern ofthrough-holes 706 are transverse to a length of the insert tube andthrough the structural filler. An insert positioning element is provided712 that is disposed axially along the insert. The positioning elementenables alignment of the insert through-hole pattern with the columnthrough-hole pattern, whereby the insert is sized to fit within thecolumn. The method further includes providing at least one beam andmounting plate 714, where the beam has the mounting plate attached to abeam end, and the mounting plate has through-holes arranged in thepattern, where the mounting plate abuts an outside wall of the column.Additionally the method includes providing at least one erection insertconnector 716, where the insert connecter has an erection bolt, wherethe erection bolt spans through the mounting plate, through a wall ofthe column, through a wall of the insert and into the threaded element,whereby the beam is positioned on the building column. The pattern ofmounting plate through-holes are aligned with the pattern of columnthrough-holes 118 and the erection connector is secured to the threadedelement 720. Further, the steps include providing at least one set ofmounting plate connector hardware 722, where the mounting plateconnector hardware has a mounting plate through-bolt, a mounting platenut, a mounting plate washer. Additionally, the mounting platethrough-bolts are inserted through at least the mounting plate holes,the column holes, the insert through-holes, the filler through-holes,and into the mounting plate nuts, where the mounting plate connectorhardware is then tightened 724.

The method of using the moment resistant building column insert system100 as shown in FIGS. 5( a)-5(c) is shown by the steps in FIG. 8. Thesteps include providing a first column 800 of generally tubular shapehaving a first column top end and a first column bottom end, providing asecond column 802 of generally tubular shape having a second column topend and a second column bottom end column, where the second columnbottom end has through-holes arranged in a pattern that are transverseto a length of the tube. The method further includes providing a columninsert 804, where the insert is sized to fit within the buildingcolumns, and the insert has a top half having through-holes arranged inthe pattern and a bottom half inserted to the first column top end 806and welded thereto. The insert top end is inserted to the second columnbottom end 808 and the second column hole pattern is aligned with theinsert hole pattern 810. Additionally provided are insert connectors,where the insert connecter have a threaded element incorporated to aninside wall of the insert and concentric to the column insertthrough-hole, and an erection bolt, where the erection bolts areinserted 812 through the building column through-holes, through thecolumn insert though holes and into the threaded elements and tightenedthereto.

The present invention has now been described in accordance with severalexemplary embodiments, which are intended to be illustrative in allaspects, rather than restrictive. Thus, the present invention is capableof many variations in detailed implementation, which may be derived fromthe description contained herein by a person of ordinary skill in theart. For example, in one variation the connection plate can be flush, ornearly flush, with the top and bottom of the beam. Larger bolts, or anincreased number of bolts, could be used to connect the beam to thecolumn and produce the rigid moment connection desired. In anothervariation, where greater stiffness in one direction is needed forstructure, rectangular columns can be used with the longer direction ofthe rectangular column in the stiffer direction needed. Further, thebeams can be sloped to match a roof structure slope and still connect tothe column as a rigid moment connection. An additional variation mayoccur when beams are framed into a column at a 90-degree angle, the beampositions can be off-set vertically to allow the through-bolts to passone another in the column, and still produce a rigid connection in eachdirection. In a further variation, the erection insert can be used withcolumns that will be completely grouted to provide greater verticalcapacity to aid in the erection of the beams.

All such variations are considered to be within the scope and spirit ofthe present invention as defined by the following claims and their legalequivalents.

What is claimed:
 1. A moment resistant building column insert,comprising: a. an insert column of generally tubular shape; b. apre-hardened structural filler disposed within said insert column; c. apattern of through-holes transverse to a length of said insert columnand through said pre-hardened structural filler; d. at least a pair oferection through holes disposed through a wall of said insert column; e.at least a pair of threaded elements incorporated to an inner wall ofsaid insert column and disposed concentric to said pair of erectionholes; f. a threaded element cover disposed over each said threadedelement, wherein said threaded element cover is surrounded by saidpre-hardened structural filler, wherein said threaded element coverforms a cavity around said threaded element within said pre-hardenedstructural filler, wherein said threaded element cover is disposed toprotect said threaded elements from contamination by said structuralfiller; and g. an insert positioning element disposed axially along saidcolumn, wherein said insert positioning element comprises a positioningthrough-hole disposed for receiving a hoist end there though, whereinsaid moment resistant building column insert is disposed inside a bottomend of a first building column and inside a top end of a second buildingcolumn, wherein said moment resistant building column insert joins saidfirst building column to said second building column.